WILMINGTON — Dolores Jones Bradshaw, 68, of Wilmington, NC, peacefully passed away on March 11, 2026.
Lori was born on November 2, 1957 to Jimmie and Helga Jones on the Army base of Ft. Sill, Oklahoma. She attended Karlsruhe American High School in Germany from 1969 – 1973 and graduated from Kinston High School in 1975. She then achieved a Bachelors’ degree in Foreign Language at UNC Chapel Hill.
After graduation, Dolores worked in wastewater and public utility for over 30 years. She was passionate about the environment and loved what she did for a living.
In 1992, Dolores gave birth to her first and only child, Valarie Michelle Bradshaw. She reveled in being a mother and worked hard to instill a strong sense of independence and perseverance into her daughter.
Lori retired in 2011 after 31 years in the field. While retired, she had time to pursue her love of gardening, travel, and spending time with family. She would never miss an opportunity to cheer on her beloved Tarheels during college basketball season.
Dolores was predeceased by her paternal grandparents, Thomas and Gertrude Jones, her maternal grandparents, Max and Maria Gretschmann, her father, Jimmie Jones, her nephew, Ian Jones, and her longtime partner Samuel Killman IV.
She is survived by her mother, Helga Jones, her brother, Robert Jones, her daughter, Valarie Bradshaw, and her nieces Star Jones and Erika Rivera.
Funeral Services will be private, at the convenience of the family.
Please leave online condolence messages for Dolores’ family here.
